PUBG Update 43.1 Best Weapons Tier List: What Changed After the LMG Nerf and New Kick Mechanic
Update 43.1 reshuffled PUBG’s weapon meta by taking a firm hand to Light Machine Guns while adding a brand-new melee option. If you have not queued up since the patch dropped, here is the updated tier list and the loadouts worth building around it.
S Tier: Assault Rifles Stay on Top
With LMGs reined in, Assault Rifles reclaim their spot as the safest pick in almost every engagement range. Expect the usual suspects, mid-range beamers with manageable recoil and wide attachment support, to dominate drop-and-rotate play. Nothing about ARs changed directly in 43.1, but their relative standing improved simply because the thing that was outshining them got nerfed.
A Tier: LMGs Are Still Good, Just Not Free Value Anymore
Update 43.1 hit LMGs across the board: ADS transition time rose from 0.30 to 0.37 seconds on every LMG in the game, vehicle damage multipliers dropped (M249 and RPD now sit at 1.0x, down from 1.1x, while the MG3 fell to 1.1x from 1.25x), firing-position recoil bonuses shrank by 10 to 27 percent depending on weapon and stance, and world spawn rates for the whole category were cut by 30 percent. The devs were explicit that LMGs had “greater impact on the overall gameplay environment than intended.” They are still excellent suppression tools in a held position, especially prone, but you will see fewer of them on the ground and they no longer out-duel ARs in a straight peek.
New Tool: The Kick, and Why It Matters Early
The patch’s other big addition is a dedicated melee kick (Standing Kick and Jump Kick, bound to right-click on PC or LT on console), which hits harder and knocks back further than a punch, shreds destructible props like doors, windows, jars, and tires, and forces open indestructible doors faster than before. It also lets you damage vending machines for quicker loot. Early drops where you land unarmed just got noticeably safer, and door-breaching in close-quarters compounds is now a legitimate tactic rather than a last resort.
B Tier: SMGs and DMRs Hold Steady
SMGs remain the correct call for aggressive, close-range rotations and building clears, while DMRs sit in a comfortable middle ground for players who want reach without committing to a full sniper loadout. Neither category was touched this patch, so their tier position is really just a reflection of how much room the LMG nerf opened up above them.
Don't Sleep on the Water
43.1 also buffed swimming and diving speed by 25 percent, let players fire sidearms and throw grenades while stationary on the water’s surface, increased boat durability, and standardized firearm damage against boats at 50 percent across the board. If your rotation runs along a coastline or river, repositioning through water is now a genuinely viable escape or flank option instead of a death sentence.
Recommended Loadout After 43.1
Lead with an Assault Rifle for your primary engagement weapon, keep an SMG or DMR as your secondary depending on whether you are pushing compounds or holding a ridge, and treat any LMG you pick up as a defensive tool for a held angle rather than your main gun. Use the new kick to clear unarmed early fights and breach doors instead of wasting ammo, and don’t be afraid to swim a rotation if the circle calls for it. If you’re stocking up on in-game currency or picking up PUBG on Steam for the first time, a Steam Wallet Code (US) or Steam Wallet Code (Global) covers both. For more battle royale breakdowns, browse our Battle Royale Guides section.
